The policy context on Children's Mental Health

Latest figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that, as of 31 March, there were 223,680 "open referrals" for under-18s within the National Health Service.  The impact on the lives of young people who experience mental health problems in childhood can be devastating and enduring: those with conduct disorder, such as persistent disruptive and aggressive behaviour, are twice as likely to leave school without any qualifications; four times more likely to become a drug addict; and 20 times more likely to be imprisoned.

Despite these stark statistics, the amount of money invested in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) has stayed at roughly six per cent of the overall NHS mental health budget over the past decade. In fact, figures provided through a parliamentary answer last year by then health minister Norman Lamb showed spending on children's mental health services had fallen £50m in real terms between 2009/10 and 2013/14.

The failure for CAMHS funding to keep pace with demand - combined with more recent austerity measures resulting in cuts to local authority-run mental health support services - has had a significant effect on levels of provision. The average wait for appointments for psychological therapy was 32 weeks in 2015/16, according to NHS England's Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.

A more recent survey of CAMHS provision carried out by the Office of the Children's Commissioner for England found just 34,700 (14 per cent) of the 248,000 young people referred to CAMHS in 2015 received immediate provision (see graphics). Meanwhile, 144,000 were put on a waiting list, with the average wait for those with "life-threatening" conditions being nearly four months; while 69,500 were not allocated a service at all.